CPU Comparison
Intel Core i5-10210U vs Intel Core i5-8365U
A side-by-side comparison of specs, performance and value. The Intel Core i5-10210U is a quad-core mobile processor from Intel's 10th Generation Comet Lake lineup, designed primarily for thin-and-light laptops. Operating with a base frequency of 1.6 GHz and boosting up to 4.2 GHz, it utilizes Intel's trusted 14nm manufacturing process. With 8 threads and 6MB of L3 cache, it provides a balanced approach to everyday productivity, multitasking, and light content creation. While it lacks the advanced 10nm Sunny Cove architecture found in Intel's Ice Lake chips, the i5-10210U makes up for it with higher peak clock speeds and broad DDR4 and LPDDR3 memory support. This CPU is commonly found in mainstream business and consumer ultrabooks, offering reliable performance for office tasks, web browsing, and media consumption. Its 25W TDP ensures a good balance between battery life and thermal output, making it a practical choice for budget-conscious mobile users who need consistent multi-threaded capability without breaking the bank.
The Bottom Line
Overview & Launch
Specifications Compared
Performance Compared
Productivity
Highly capable for office suites, heavy browsing, and daily multitasking.
Excellent for office tasks, spreadsheets, and web apps.
Gaming
Limited to very light or older games due to basic UHD Graphics.
Not suitable for modern gaming; can run very light indie titles.
Virtualization
Can handle light VMs for development, but limited by 4 cores.
Can handle light VMs, but limited by 4 cores.
Efficiency
Mature 14nm process offers decent, though not class-leading, battery life.
Excellent efficiency, providing long battery life in laptops.
Specialized Performance
AI / ML
- No dedicated AI hardware
- Relies on CPU AVX2 instructions
- No dedicated AI hardware.
- Relies on CPU for basic inference.
Content Creation
Gaming
- Relies on Intel UHD Graphics
- Only suitable for 2D or highly optimized older games
- Lacks hardware support for modern DirectX 12 Ultimate features
- UHD Graphics 620 is not designed for gaming.
- Can handle very old or simple 2D games.
- Modern 3D titles will be unplayable.
Industry Impact
Best CPU by Use Case
Target Audience
Strengths & Weaknesses
Pros
- Reliable performance for everyday tasks
- High boost clock of 4.2 GHz
- Good multitasking with 8 threads
- Wide compatibility with DDR4 and LPDDR3
Cons
- Built on aging 14nm process
- Weak integrated graphics
- No support for PCIe 4.0
- End-of-life status
Pros
- Excellent power efficiency
- vPro support for business
- Good single-core burst performance
- Supports fast DDR4 memory
Cons
- Only 4 cores in a multi-core world
- Integrated graphics are very weak
- End-of-life status
- Soldered to motherboard, non-upgradable
Competitors & Alternatives
Intel Core i5-10210U
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500URival
Mobile
- AMD Ryzen 7 3700URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i7-10510URival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-1035G1Rival
Mobile
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-8265URival
Mobile
Better efficiency and graphics on 10nm.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 5500UAlt
More cores and better performance.
Cheaper alternative for basic tasks.
Compare head-to-head- Alt
Vastly superior battery life and performance.
Compare head-to-head - AMD Ryzen 3 4300UAlt
Budget-friendly with modern Vega graphics.
Intel Core i5-8365U
- AMD Ryzen 5 3500URival
Mobile Mainstream
- Compare head-to-headIntel Core i5-8350URival
Mobile Mainstream
- AMD Ryzen 7 3700URival
Mobile High-End
- Intel Core i7-8565URival
Mobile High-End
- Intel Core i5-7200URival
Previous Gen Mobile
Better 10nm architecture and graphics.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 5 4500UAlt
More cores and better efficiency.
Modern hybrid architecture is much faster.
Compare head-to-head- AMD Ryzen 3 5300UAlt
Good budget alternative with modern features.
Significantly better IPC and Xe graphics.
Compare head-to-head
Our Verdict on Each
A dependable 14nm processor that delivered solid value in 2019 laptops, though it lacks the graphical prowess of Intel's 10nm counterparts.
Best for: Purchasing a heavily discounted used laptop for basic office work.
Read the full reviewA reliable and efficient processor for business users, offering solid multi-core performance and vPro manageability, though its integrated graphics are basic.
Best for: Buying a used business laptop at a steep discount.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Which is faster for gaming, Intel Core i5-10210U or Intel Core i5-8365U?
For gaming, the Intel Core i5-10210U leads with a gaming performance score of 40/100 among Intel Core i5-10210U and Intel Core i5-8365U.
Which uses less power?
The Intel Core i5-8365U has the lowest rated TDP. Power draw across these chips: Intel Core i5-10210U (25 W), Intel Core i5-8365U (15 W).
Do Intel Core i5-10210U and Intel Core i5-8365U use the same socket?
No. They use different sockets (Intel Core i5-10210U: Intel BGA 1440, Intel Core i5-8365U: BGA 1528), so each needs a compatible motherboard.
Which is faster in multi-core benchmarks?
The Intel Core i5-10210U posts the highest multi-core benchmark score. Multi-core results: Intel Core i5-10210U (8,540), Intel Core i5-8365U (6,100). Benchmark figures are approximate and workload-dependent.